As Mayor de Blasio pulls out all the stops to make the case for zoning proposals critical to his affordable housing plans, the Citizens Budget Commission assessed the economics of housing construction in the city.
Rahul Jain and Michael Dardia of the New York Citizens Budget Commission this week released analysis on the cost of affordable housing in the city.
From the beginning, the report acknowledges the ongoing debate (and lack of consensus) about what kinds of housing to generate, and how, to improve the affordability of the city's housing stock. With that context in mind, the report states: "In order to assess these concerns it is necessary to understand the economics of housing construction in New York City: How much does it cost to build residential units and what level of rent is needed to generate sufficient revenue to cover those costs?"
The brief report covers three subheadings: 1) cost of construction, 2) who can afford the city's rents, and the cost required to build more affordable units. The picture that emerges from the analysis shows how astronomically expensive the city is—even in so-called "weak" markets.
FULL STORY: The Cost of Affordable Housing
New York Mayor Announces ‘Get Stuff Built’ Housing Plan
Mayor Adams says the new plan will cut building processes by 50 percent to accelerate badly needed housing construction, but parts of the proposal still face hurdles to get approved.
NYC Rents Rising at Twice the National Rate
New York renters are being squeezed out as landlords raise rents by hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars.
NYC Planning Head Defends Growth-Oriented Policies
Acknowledging anti-development sentiments currently simmering at an "all-time high," New York's planning director Marisa Lago defended de Blasio administration policies like mandatory inclusionary housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
Albuquerque’s Microtransit: A Planner’s Answer to Food Access Gaps
New microtransit vans in Albuquerque aim to close food access gaps by linking low-income areas to grocery stores, cutting travel times by 30 percent and offering planners a scalable model for equity-focused transit.
This City Will Pay You to Meet Your Neighbors
A North Kansas City grant program offers up to $400 for residents to throw neighborhood block parties.
Commentary: Our Silence Will Not Protect Us
Keeping our heads down and our language inoffensive is not the right response to the times we’re in. Solidarity and courage is.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)